LA Mayor dating Lu Parker

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is reportedly dating KTLA - TV Channel 5 newscaster Lu Parker. Station officials for the Channel confirmed the reports on Monday. According to reports, the two have been dating since March. Parker is an Emmy award winner for her contributions towards journalism. She joined the KTLA network in January 2005. Prior to that, she hosted “Great Day S.A” for KENS -TV in San Antonia, Texas. Parker is also a former Miss U.S.A.

On Sunday, the Mayor and Parker were spotted at Chevalier’s, the Larchmont bookstore. L.A Times reported that in an interview KTLA-TV General Manager Don Corsini has said that matters of ethics would not be dragged in to the matter. He had complete faith not only in Parker’s journalistic abilities but also on her sense of ethics, which he was sure would compel her not to play the role of a mouth piece in the Mayor’s future campaigns.

This is the second time that the L.A Mayor has been involved in a relationship with a television reporter. The first incident which surfaced two years ago, involved Telemundo Channel 52 anchor-reporter Mirthala Salinas. The “romance” had stirred up quite a storm and resulted in the fall-out between the Mayor and his wife Corina. Their marriage of 20 years ended abruptly. The divorce has not been finalized yet.

Its a deja-vu of sorts, with the Mayor now getting involved with Parker. The situation is however more favorable for the Mayor now since he enjoys a single status now.

On Sunday, while on air as a weekend anchor, Parker hinted at Villaraigosa contesting for the post of Governor in 2010. KTLA-TV news director Jason Ball said that in the light of the new developments, Parker will not be covering local news. Her integrity, however, was not being questioned.